Political Climate of Illinois Suburbs (Chicago, Aurora: live in, business, population)

[madt]

Hi. I've heard that the suburbs are pretty conservative, but the closer you get to Chicago the more liberal people are. What is the rough boundary between the dems and repubs?

[Paxtonian]

In the Elmwood Park-Mont Clare area, Harlem Avenue is the line. On the west side of the street, it's Republican, on the east, Democratic.

[j33]

The south suburbs are not very Republican. Of course some argue there is a big difference between 'liberal and conservative' and 'democratic and republican' (especially in their current incarnations), and I would be one those people.

[Steve-o]

DuPage is pretty mixed, about 50/50. Towns like Wheaton are vastly repub, towns like Aurora more dem.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

DuPage is pretty mixed, about 50/50. Towns like Wheaton are vastly repub, towns like Aurora more dem.

There isn't a single Democrat on the DuPage County Board! Zero out of 18. Most of Aurora is in Kane County. A lot of Aurora's population growth has been middle and upper-middle class suburban white families, so I wouldn't necessarily bet on Aurora being solidly Democrat any more. What's more, the portion of Aurora that is in DuPage county consists largely of this particular demographic.

[madt]

thanks for the info. In the divided counties, is there alot of tension between pro-dems and pro-repubs? or does everyone just kind of go about their business?

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

There isn't a single Democrat on the DuPage County Board! Zero out of 18. Most of Aurora is in Kane County. A lot of Aurora's population growth has been middle and upper-middle class suburban white families, so I wouldn't necessarily bet on Aurora being solidly Democrat any more. What's more, the portion of Aurora that is in DuPage county consists largely of this particular demographic.

True, but theyre not asking about the boards, theyre asking about the population. Just because the boards are repub in DuPage doesnt mean that the whole county votes repub.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

True, but theyre not asking about the boards, theyre asking about the population. Just because the boards are repub in DuPage doesnt mean that the whole county votes repub.

I think it's pretty self-evident that the balance isn't anywhere near 50/50. DuPage County is a quintessential suburban-conservative Republican county -- the Orange County of Illinois, if you will.

[jenrik2714]

I am a democrat and I live in Aurora on the DuPage portion

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

I think it's pretty self-evident that the balance isn't anywhere near 50/50. DuPage County is a quintessential suburban-conservative Republican county -- the Orange County of Illinois, if you will.

Is there anyway I can check the percentages of voters results from DuPage? Im curious myself. I see LOTS of dem signs all over the place out here come election time, usually more so than repub.